Big Samsung Gear S2 update adds photo watch faces and more

While watchOS 3 and Android Wear 2.0 are the smartwatch updates that we're really waiting to land, there is good news on the Tizen front. A major update has just been outed for the Samsung Gear S2, adding a wealth of new features.

The major addition is the new My Photo feature that lets you choose your own images to be your watch face. It's not the biggest technological innovation of the year, we'll give you that, but it is a feature that the Gear S2 has been crying out for.

On the no-brainer front, Sammy has also made it possible to install recommended apps directly from the watch, rather than having to do so through your paired smartphone.

Additional updated functions include the ability to post your fitness and activity stats directly to social networks like Facebook, plus automatic sleep detection is on board so your smartwatch will pick up on all your power naps.

There are minor tweaks to the world clock and the weather apps too, and some additional S Voice controls. All of these features come in one big package, labelled R732XXU2DPFB (Gear S2 classic) or R730XXU2DPFB (Sport).

You should see the update notification popping up through the Samsung Gear app on your smartphone soon. It's rolling out as we speak.

The Gear S2 is currently ranked as Wareable's top smartwatch pick so any updates can improve its standing. The sequel - the Samsung Gear S3 is strongly tipped to launch later this year but we're happy to take the software updates to the current model while we wait.